National bestselling author William Elliott Hazelgrove’s novel My Best Year is taking a significant step toward the big screen, with a completed screenplay by veteran Hollywood screenwriter Barney Cohen and discussions now underway for casting and financing. The project, which has been in development for some time, is being shepherded by Allan Graffman and Rosebud Productions, with Cohen and The Ivan Group also involved in bringing the story to life.
The film adaptation has received approval from Ekkle, a faith-oriented production company, which has been actively participating in conversations about financing, casting, and production. This green light marks a crucial milestone, moving the project from the page to pre-production planning.
At the heart of My Best Year is the poignant story of Paul and Julie Clampet, parents who are determined to give their autistic son, Toby, the senior year that every teenager deserves. After Toby is expelled from his high school, the family discovers a struggling school in Indiana and enlists its teachers and students in an ambitious plan to create Toby’s best year ever—complete with a winning touchdown, a spot in the homecoming parade, and a date to the homecoming dance.
The narrative, which blends humor, tenderness, and inspiration, explores themes of family, acceptance, and the lengths parents will go to ensure their child feels a sense of belonging. Hazelgrove expressed his excitement about the project’s progress, noting, “The story has always been about parents refusing to accept that their son should have to stand on the sidelines of life. Seeing that story move toward the screen is tremendously exciting.”
The production team is currently evaluating a range of budget scenarios, which will largely depend on the talent attached to the project. Casting decisions are expected to play a pivotal role in determining the film’s scope and scale, with discussions already underway.
Hazelgrove brings a wealth of literary experience to this project. He is the author of numerous novels and narrative nonfiction works, earning starred reviews from prestigious publications like Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, and Booklist. His writing has been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, NPR, and C-SPAN. Several of his previous books have been optioned or developed for film and television, underscoring his track record in the entertainment industry.
In addition to his writing career, Hazelgrove served as the Ernest Hemingway Writer-in-Residence, writing for ten years in the attic of Hemingway’s birthplace in Oak Park, Illinois. His diverse bibliography includes titles such as The Pitcher, Dead Air, Henry Knox’s Noble Train, Capone’s Vault, and the forthcoming The Camp Mystic Flood: A Story of Tragedy and Heroism.
The advancement of My Best Year toward feature film production not only highlights the enduring appeal of Hazelgrove’s storytelling but also signals a growing interest in faith-based and family-oriented cinema. With a screenplay in hand and a production company on board, the project is poised to bring this heartwarming tale to audiences worldwide.
